1/2 ton 3/4 ton - how do you figure

RC

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Apr 13, 2003
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Went to a rental yard this morning and they wouldn't rent me a dual axle trailer to pull behind my Durango. They said it had to be at least 3/4 ton. The Durango tow capacity is 4700 pounds. How do you figure 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton...Thanks
 

JB

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Re: 1/2 ton 3/4 ton - how do you figure

They go by the capacity of the trailer. If the trailer will carry X pounds they wont put it on a vehicle that isn't rated for X+trailer pounds.<br /><br />I doubt that they are any more sophisticated than to label the trailer as requiring a 3/4 ton truck.
 

Silvertip

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Sep 22, 2003
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Re: 1/2 ton 3/4 ton - how do you figure

Manufacturers typically designate their full-size trucks 1500 (1/2 ton), 2500 (3/4 ton), 3500 (1 ton) or F150 (1/2), F250, --- you get the picture. Midsize trucks are not rated that way. They are simply light duty trucks. Unfortunately people hook up a trailer and figure they can two whatever fits in it. While they may be able to tow it, they may not be able to stop it. As for U-Haul, its a liability thing. As an example, one cubic yard of sand/gravel weighs roughly 3000 pounds. That trailer would likely hold at least two yards so you see where the problem lies.
 

RC

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Re: 1/2 ton 3/4 ton - how do you figure

Makes sense. Thanks
 

SwampNut

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Re: 1/2 ton 3/4 ton - how do you figure

The other day I saw a U-Haul car trailer with a large car on it, being towed by... A minivan! It was sagging to the suspension stops and the front tires were just about off the ground. I called 911. The guy was sure to kill someone.
 

ndemge

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Re: 1/2 ton 3/4 ton - how do you figure

SwampNut.... When I sold my 21' Celebrity I/O a couple years back, a guy with a Montana Minivan came to pick it up, I tried and tried to get him to re-consider, but he insisted he could pull it home fine. <br /><br />I pulled this boat the 90 miles home when *I* bought it with an 4WD S-10 Blazer with a 4.3 with tranny/oil cooler, and it was NOT happy, and I know that blazer weihed more than his minivan.
 
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